CVE-2023-40590
GitPython untrusted search path on Windows systems leading to arbitrary code execution
Impact
### Summary When resolving a program, Python/Windows look for the current working directory, and after that the PATH environment (see big warning in https://docs.python.org/3/library/subprocess.html#popen-constructor). GitPython defaults to use the `git` command, if a user runs GitPython from a repo has a `git.exe` or `git` executable, that program will be run instead of the one in the user's `PATH`. ### Details This is more of a problem on how Python interacts with Windows systems, Linux and any other OS aren't affected by this. But probably people using GitPython usually run it from the CWD of a repo. The execution of the `git` command happens in https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/blob/1c8310d7cae144f74a671cbe17e51f63a830adbf/git/cmd.py#L277 https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/blob/1c8310d7cae144f74a671cbe17e51f63a830adbf/git/cmd.py#L983-L996 And there are other commands executed that should probably be aware of this problem. ### PoC On a Windows system, create a `git.exe` or `git` executable in any directory, and import or run GitPython from that directory ``` python -c "import git" ``` The git executable from the current directory will be run. ### Impact An attacker can trick a user to download a repository with a malicious `git` executable, if the user runs/imports GitPython from that directory, it allows the attacker to run any arbitrary commands. ### Possible solutions - Default to an absolute path for the git program on Windows, like `C:\\Program Files\\Git\\cmd\\git.EXE` (default git path installation). - Require users to set the `GIT_PYTHON_GIT_EXECUTABLE` environment variable on Windows systems. - Make this problem prominent in the documentation and advise users to never run GitPython from an untrusted repo, or set the `GIT_PYTHON_GIT_EXECUTABLE` env var to an absolute path. - Resolve the executable manually by only looking into the `PATH` environment variable (suggested by @Byron) --- > [!NOTE] > This vulnerability was reported via email, and it was decided to publish it here and make it public, so the community is aware of it, and a fix can be provided.
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| pip | gitpython | <= 3.1.32 | 3.1.33 |
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions |
|---|---|---|
| Gitpython Project | Gitpython | through 3.1.32 |
Weakness classification
References
- NVD record
- CVE.org record
- GitHub advisory
- https://docs.python.org/3/library/subprocess.html#popen-constructor
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/security/advisories/GHSA-wfm5-v35h-vwf4
- https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-wfm5-v35h-vwf4
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40590
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/issues/1635
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/pull/1636
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/commit/8b75434e2c8a082cdeb4971cc6f0ee2bafec45bc
- https://github.com/gitpython-developers/GitPython/releases/tag/3.1.33
- https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/gitpython/PYSEC-2023-161.yaml